You know the feeling: You're standing in a café, wondering what to order. A classic cappuccino? Or maybe a flat white? Your friend's girlfriend from work raved about it. But what exactly is it again? Don't worry, we'll fill you in and make you a coffee drink expert. So let's go!
Cappuccino - From the true Italian to latte art
A few years ago, if you ordered a cappuccino, you'd get a proper Italian cappuccino. In many classic cafés or bakeries here in Germany, that's still the case. But in Italy, if you order "Un cappuccino per favore!" , you'll definitely get the following: a dark espresso with hot milk and plenty of thick foam, sprinkled with cocoa.
Today, things are quite different. While the basic composition hasn't changed much, the preparation, presentation, and taste have. In a specialty café, a cappuccino is served with espresso and warm milk, which is artfully poured over the milk. You might see a heart, a leaf, or perhaps even a swan in the delicate, creamy milk foam. The espresso itself isn't dark roasted, but rather a medium roast.
Flat White - Just a hype?
The Flat White is currently being offered in specialty cafes. In the cup, you'll find two espressos and even more finely frothed milk foam than in a cappuccino. This means you get more caffeine in a delicate foam – also known as microfoam. This is ideal for latte art. However, because of the very fine foam, it's even more difficult to pour and less forgiving of mistakes than when pouring a cappuccino.
The difference lies in the details
Of course, the two are very similar. But between the obvious difference of one versus two espressos, the small but crucial difference lies in the milk foam. With a cappuccino, the ancestor – the true Italian – is undeniable. The classic three-part structure of espresso – warm milk – milk foam is still present in the modern version. A proper flat white, however, should only consist of espresso – microfoam.
To achieve this perfect nuance, whole milk with a fat content of 3.8% is particularly suitable. You can read more about the influence of the right milk on your favorite coffee here . The milk is only minimally aerated to allow it to blend optimally with the espresso. Mastering the correct technique requires a lot of patience and practice. If you'd like to learn the basics, you can acquire them in our Barista Basic Course .
As you can see, sometimes the differences are subtle and not immediately obvious. But with us, you'll become a true expert and can impress everyone at your next party. Or maybe you can show Grandma something new during Sunday coffee. Let us know what you've always wanted to know about coffee. We're happy to help!
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team
Flat White vs. Cappuccino - We explain the difference!
You know the feeling: You're standing in a café, wondering what to order. A classic cappuccino? Or maybe a flat white? Your friend's girlfriend from work raved about it. But what exactly is it again? Don't worry, we'll fill you in and make you a coffee drink expert. So let's go!
Cappuccino - From the true Italian to latte art
A few years ago, if you ordered a cappuccino, you'd get a proper Italian cappuccino. In many classic cafés or bakeries here in Germany, that's still the case. But in Italy, if you order "Un cappuccino per favore!" , you'll definitely get the following: a dark espresso with hot milk and plenty of thick foam, sprinkled with cocoa.
Today, things are quite different. While the basic composition hasn't changed much, the preparation, presentation, and taste have. In a specialty café, a cappuccino is served with espresso and warm milk, which is artfully poured over the milk. You might see a heart, a leaf, or perhaps even a swan in the delicate, creamy milk foam. The espresso itself isn't dark roasted, but rather a medium roast.
Flat White - Just a hype?
The Flat White is currently being offered in specialty cafes. In the cup, you'll find two espressos and even more finely frothed milk foam than in a cappuccino. This means you get more caffeine in a delicate foam – also known as microfoam. This is ideal for latte art. However, because of the very fine foam, it's even more difficult to pour and less forgiving of mistakes than when pouring a cappuccino.
The difference lies in the details
Of course, the two are very similar. But between the obvious difference of one versus two espressos, the small but crucial difference lies in the milk foam. With a cappuccino, the ancestor – the true Italian – is undeniable. The classic three-part structure of espresso – warm milk – milk foam is still present in the modern version. A proper flat white, however, should only consist of espresso – microfoam.
To achieve this perfect nuance, whole milk with a fat content of 3.8% is particularly suitable. You can read more about the influence of the right milk on your favorite coffee here . The milk is only minimally aerated to allow it to blend optimally with the espresso. Mastering the correct technique requires a lot of patience and practice. If you'd like to learn the basics, you can acquire them in our Barista Basic Course .
As you can see, sometimes the differences are subtle and not immediately obvious. But with us, you'll become a true expert and can impress everyone at your next party. Or maybe you can show Grandma something new during Sunday coffee. Let us know what you've always wanted to know about coffee. We're happy to help!
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team